Local Resident Opens The Agonist Gallery

A second career is what many hope for after retirement, but South Windsor resident Jeff Holcombe actually made it happen when he opened the Agonist Gallery.

The art gallery is located at 100 Main St., in Broad Brook.

The studio opened in October 2017. Holcombe's photography focuses on nature, science, and dance.

"This is a space where people will come where science and art meet, and they meet it," Holcombe said.

He said the Agonist will serve as a multipurpose location of a studio gallery and an educational space. There is also a virtual reality center, which allows guests to interactively engage in different scenarios - such as climbing Mount Everest and extinguishing fires.

"This is supposed to also be where I can provide some advanced education for students at the high school level, college students, and adults," he said.

He added that his teachings will center around life science. Holcombe was a science teacher at Loomis Chaffee School.

Photography has always been a part of Holcombe's life, and something he said has always been his passion.

"It's a means to something else, a tool," he said. "It has to be used as means of expression plus education. You want to challenge boundaries. That's what moves culture forward."

More than 25 years ago, Holcombe attempted to break into photography but could not part with his images because he had an emotional attachment to them. He continued photography on the side and participated in galleries over the years.

A major project showcasing Holcomb's dance photography is in his photo-book, Dancing on the Appian Way. The photos show the dancers performing on the Roman roads. He captured the images while on sabbatical before he retired.

After retiring from teaching in 2013, he was able to live out his dream.

The name of gallery, "Agonist," comes from the criticism art heroes and scientific evolutions received because they were ahead of their time, Holcombe said.

"These people were vilified in the press," he said.

His current photo gallery, "Nature at Unnatural Magnifications," focuses on abstract micrographs. Parts of nature, such as a wing from a bee or a fish scale, are magnified and altered to show an array of patterns and colors. The show will run through the end of the year.

The Agonist Gallery is also available to rent for events. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m., or by appointment. Contact 860-305-8623 for more information. Texting is preferred.